FAYETTEVILLE — There are no comprehensive statistics ranking the overall performance of special teams in the NCAA's database.
That's a good thing for Arkansas.
The Razorbacks suffered mightily in the kicking game in 2008 as the coaching staff focused its efforts on installing and fine-tuning the new offense and defense in Coach Bobby Petrino's first year with the team.
Not-so-special teams play started with a lost fumble on the opening kickoff of the season opener against Western Illinois, included numerous meager gains by the punt-return team, mediocre kickoff coverage and extended to place-kicking, where Arkansas hit less than 60 percent of its field-goal attempts and missed two extra-point attempts.
"I think one thing I really learned last year is that in this conference, games are going tocome down to special teams," Petrino said. "And you have an opportunity to win some games if you do a good job in special teams, and you have an opportunity to lose a couple games if you don't do a good job."
If it weren't for punter Jeremy Davis and the punt coverage team, which ranked 12th in the NCAA and second in the SEC with a net punting average of 37.8 yards, the Hogs' special teams would have been even more of a liability.
The Razorbacks ranked 109thnationally with a punt return average of 5.3 yards, which ranked last in the conference along with the team's kickoff coverage.
Arkansas gave up an average of 10 extra yards per kickoff compared to SEC leaders Kentucky and South Carolina. Arkansas kickers had one touchback; Kentucky and South Carolina had 23 and 25 touchbacks, respectively.
The Razorbacks, with Alex Tejada hitting 4 of 9, were one of three teams in the country to convert only one field goal from 30 yards or longer a year ago, according to cfbstats.com. Arkansas went 1 of 6 from that distance, while Louisiana-Lafayette was 1 of 4 and New Mexico State was1 of 3. Plus, Arkansas was one of three SEC teams to miss two extra-point attempts in 2008.
Arkansas did not block a single kick; Florida, the SEC leader, blocked eight.
The overall performance of the special teams prompted Petrino to hire John L. Smith, a former head coach at Idaho, Utah State, Louisville and Michigan State, who early in his career developed a reputation for his ability to mold successful special teams.
Smith is expected to blend veterans - linebacker Freddy Burton and cornerback Ramon Broadway are a couple of the special teams mainstays - and newcomers on the various punt- and kick-coverage teams.
Dennis Johnson, who had a game-winning kickoff return for a touchdown against Tulsa, is back for his sophomore season, while senior Michael Smith and sophomore Joe Adams appear to be the top candidates at punt returner.
Adams returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown in the Razorbacks' last scrimmage, which prompted reporters to ask if Adams had put himself in the lead.
"Joe Adams thinks he did," Smith said. "In fact he told me he did right afterwards; he said, 'I'm your guy, right?' And you know what, as quick as he looked, he kind of looked like the guy."
Junior-college transfer Briton Forester appears to have the edge at punter, though true freshman Dylan Breeding has displayed ample leg strength.
"He's going to do great things in a couple of years," Forester said of Breeding.
Petrino, however, cannot wait a couple of years to see improvement in the kicking game. He slammed his fist on the podium playfully when discussing special teams on Arkansas media day.
"I expect to be a lot better on special teams and it's all on him," Petrino said, flashing a big smile when talking about Smith. "We've made a total commitment to it. John L.'s an expert at it. ... It's something he truly loves and enjoys."
Sports, Pages 21, 28 on 08/28/2009